Kamara ties record with six rushing touchdowns
NEW ORLEANS 52 MINNESOTA 33
NEW ORLEANS — Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record by running for six touchdowns in a game and f inished with a career- high 155 yards rushing to help New Orleans beat the Minnesota Vikings 52- 33 on Friday and clinch a fourth straight NFC South title.
Wearing one red and one green shoe on Christmas Day, Kamara sprinted for a 40- yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. He added scoring runs of one, f ive, six, seven and three yards against a Minnesota defensive front hit hard by injuries.
Kamara equaled a record set by Hall of Fame fullback Ernie Nevers in 1929 for the Chicago Cardinals.
“The offensive line gets the game ball for sure, kudos to them,” Kamara said. “Today was a great day, we got our f irst goal, division title. Gonna take it from there.”
Minnesota ( 6- 9) was eliminated from playoff contention while giving up the most points by any Vikings team since 1963.
The Saints ( 11- 4) never punted and set a record for yards gained in a game by a Vikings opponent with 583.
Drew Brees completed 19 of 26 throws for 311 yards in his second game back from rib and lung injuries that had sidelined him for four games. He threw two interceptions, one on a pass that def lected off receiver Emmanuel Sanders’ hands, or the margin of victory might have been greater.
Sanders had four catches for 83 yards, and tight end Jared Cook caught three passes for 82 yards. New Orleans’ 264 yards rushing were the most by a Vikings opponent in seven seasons.
New Orleans native Irv Smith Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter for the Vikings, the second pulling Minnesota to 31- 27. But the Saints responded with two short touchdown runs by Kamara and one by reserve quarterback Taysom Hill in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.